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A spot at Tickford Racing appeared as the most likely chance for Lee Holdsworth to stay on the Supercars grid in 2019.
Holdsworth is replaced by Mark Winterbottom at Charlie Schwerkolt's Team 18, ending a four-year partnership between the team and the driver.
Winner three times, this 35-year-old athlete has competed full-time in Supercars since 2006 and is optimistic to continue, even though there are few places left.
This is Winterbottom's old record at Tickford, which is expected to return to three of his own entries next year, while posting 23Red as a customer.
Chaz Mostert and Cameron Waters will continue with the team, but it is unlikely that Richie Stanaway will return after a rookie year in the horror field.
Hold-upworth and Tekno Autosports' Jack Le Brocq, who finished in 2018 as the best rookie, have both been tied to the third Tickford Mustang.
Le Brocq has a history with Tickford, driving for the Super2 team and the enduros in 2016, but has publicly stated that he hopes to stay in Tekno for a second year.
Michael Caruso is a potential candidate for Tickford, although his best chance seems to be Kelly Racing.
The Kelly team currently has two unconfirmed seats, with both Caruso and Andre Heimgartner at the end of the contract.
When asked about Tickford's rumors in Newcastle, Holdsworth said, "I'm confident there will be something for me next year, but nothing is definitely locked up.
"It's hard to know how to feel, because I do not know if I left [the grid] or not.
"There are a few things that are bubbling up, so we'll see if anything comes up."
Holdsworth in action in Newcastle
Holdsworth began his supercars career at Garry Rogers Motorsport and was on the verge of joining what is now Tickford Racing for 2012.
However, he chose to go with Stone Brothers Racing, spending a single season in his Ford before undergoing two difficult campaigns in his Erebus-AMG appearance.
Holdsworth then signed with Schwerkolt at the end of 2014 while Team 18 was lined up as Tickford's fourth car.
However, Schwerkolt and Tickford broke off their ties before the arrival of Holdsworth. In 2015, they left Walkinshaw before forming an independent team.
This has resulted in championship results of 24, 16 and 21 only since 2016, and Holdsworth's only top 10 finish this season will be in Newcastle on Sunday.
Holdsworth was on pace all weekend on the tough street circuit, qualifying a fifth best of the season for both races.
He finished 12th Saturday after a strategy error and a penalty for breaking the Safety Car restart.
The ninth followed Sunday, despite a pit stop that included a wheel that led into the fast lane, giving the team a $ 3,000 fine and a deduction of 30 points in the championship.
"I'm slightly disappointed because we should have been P6, but we had a bad pass," he said.
"But it's a good way to end the year and make everyone smile.
"Thanks to my team for all the good times they have put this year, I appreciate every minute."
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